Saturday, 31 December 2016

31st December 2016 Dungeness Overcast

An overcast grey day to see the much-discussed 'grey' first-winter female Stonechat that DNA re-analysis has identified as a Common Stonechat. It proved mobile but we watched it for 90 minutes or so. A visit to the RSPB reserve produced the drake Ring-necked Duck and the returning Long-eared Owl again wintering behind the Dipping Pond. A drive to the point and in the first roadside flock of Gulls encountered an argentatus Herring Gull was immediately obvious and it took JFC just a couple of minutes to pick out a first-winter Caspian Gull. On our way back past Scotney we noticed Matt and Paula who were watching a pair of displaying Bewick's Swans that soon took flight heading towards Dungeness.